The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-06-10
Prohibition in Maine.

this city about the last of April to
Hon. Joseph r. Bodwell, governor
of the state of Maine, asking for a
certified statement, under oath, of
the results and effects of the pro-
hibition law of that state.
The following reply and state
ment came in response to that let
ter, the original of which can be
seen by any one on calling upon
the chairman of the committee.
STATE OF MAINE, COUNCIL CHAM
Der, Augusta, May 10, 18S7.-MY
DEAR SIR:-Yours of late date to
our governor Hon Joseph R. Bod
well, was handed me with instruc-
tons to answer under oath.
According to the most reliable
information, L will state that under
the working of our prohibitory
law every distillery and brewery
in the state has been closed; that
in more than one-half the towns
in the state the traffic in intoxica-
ting liquor has been entirely sup
pressed, and everywhere restricted
to a comparatively few secret grog-
geries.
In 1880, the latest figures 1 have
at hand on this point, only $50
persons in this state paid the Uni
ted States retail liquor tax includ-
ing drug stores, and under a recent
act making the payment of the
..s t against "a al parties paying
the same, the indications are that
the present limited sale of liquor
in our state will be reduced to a
much smaller compass.
The general effect of the law
has been to pretty generally rid
the rural districts of dram shops
and of centering the trade in the
cities where it has been more diff
fcult to enforce the law, but even
here a much less quantity is sold
than formerly under license. Be-
tween 1860 and 1850 our state val
uation for purposes of taxation
rose from s162,0O0,0O0 to 1922, 1000
0G0, while on account of our large
western emigration our population
increased only about 10000. This
does not include savings bank de-
posts.
What we consider one of the
most marked results of our prohi-
bitory law is the steady increase
in the temporary savings of our
people. Since 1860 to the present
time the deposits in our savings
banks have increased from q, 466,
900 to over s37,OOO,OOO.
The depositors number over H.
900. averaging one to each family,
with an average deposit of s324.47
or in other words an amount suf-
fcient to average s5S to every man,
woman and child in the state.
Business and trade are in no way
injured by prohibition, but on the
contrary are benefited thereby.
Men are more efficient and steady
at their work, and the earnings
which would go to pay for liquor
we're it displayed for sale, is either
laid by for rainy day, or goes
to increase the comforts of home
According to the most liberal es
Inmates es to the consumption o
liquor in the State of Maine a;
compared with the country at largt
there is direct saving to the PEG
pie of the state between S6,OOO,O O'
and 100000 annually.
Though the law against the high
er crimes is rigidly enforced il
our state, the number of convict
In our state averages one in $500
of our inhabitants, while the coun
try at large averages Letween tire
and four times that number.
Our experience is that intem
perance and vice go largely ham
in hand, and the lessening of IN
temperance lessons vice and pro
notes morality. immortality is 4
, a discount and Is frowned down L
every part of the state.
After trial of the prohibition.
law for over % years, in 1884 on
state adopted constitutions
, amendment prohibiting the sale
intoxicating liquors as beverage
} by vote of 70, 1888 to %, S1S agains
it. CHAs. J. HOUSE.
State of Maine, Kennebec, S.